St. Patrick’s Day, traditionally a day of wearing green and pinching those who don’t, and looking for leprechauns and pots of gold is Saturday.

Just what exactly is St. Patrick’s day?

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday similar to our Thanksgiving day feasts which honors the patron saint of Ireland believed to have died on March 17 around 460 A.D.

St. Patrick’s Day, as we know it, is a mix of traditions, folklore and fun brought to the Americas from Irish immigrants.

The shamrock is believed to have been used by St. Patrick to explain the trinity to followers, and is still a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day both in Ireland and the U.S.

Dana Oldenstadt-Willaims, director of the Dardanelle Senior Activity Center, remembers her mother hiding a shamrock in the house on St. Patrick’s day, and said she carried on the tradition with her own children.

“My great-great grandmother was from Ireland,” Williams said. “My mother did her best to carry on the Irish traditions with us. She would hide an actual shamrock in the house and whoever found it would choose their favorite dish for supper.”

Williams said she kept the tradition going with her own children and even know she hides a paper shamrock at the senior center.

“We always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day here at the center,” she said. “Last night we enjoyed a meal of Irish stew and many guests wore green. Mary Essinger found the shamrock this year, so she ate for free. Leslee really made the meal festive.”

Williams said she and her husband generally eat corn beef and cabbage for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day like so many others, but she also prepares a more traditional dish known as colcanon.

“Colcanon is traditionally made from mashed potatoes and cabbage,” she said. “It is more traditional than corn beef. I also like to make Irish soda bread.”

Williams said one other tradition her family has kept for many generations is the practice of naming a child in every generation after her great-great grandmother.

“Darby was the original family name,” she said. “Someone in every generation, usually the middle name, is still named Darby. I’m not a Darby. My mother was set on the name of Dana and Dana Darby doesn’t fit very well.”

So whether you have a wee bit of Irish in you, or you just enjoy celebrating the day, remember to wear green and be on the look out for sneaky leprechauns.